March Update

Ethan is managing to get around pretty well these days.  He's not crawling, but he rolls all around and can scoot backwards when on his tummy.  He hasn't mastered the ability to get where he wants, but I think he's close.  He had his first two teeth (on the bottom) come in during the last two weeks of March.  Ethan loves to eat.  He does well with some little finger foods, mostly puffs and yogurt melts and crackers.  He has eaten every baby food puree that I've tried.  He will get quite vocal if he's in his high chair and the food doesn't come quickly enough.  He's learned how to lift his hands up for "How big is Ethan?"  He doesn't always do it, but is really proud of himself when he does.  He is still quite a happy little guy.  Loves to watch Claire and James and explore new objects.  Most nights he sleep from 7:30 until between 5:30 and 6:30 when he has a little snack and goes back to sleep until about 7.  Ethan is still not a good napper but gets by with a few little catnaps during the day.

James is doing much more imaginative play these days.  He especially loves to play with his dinosaurs, picking out which ones are babies, having them talk with each other, etc.  He loves to wrestle and play rough but gets frustrated because Claire doesn't enjoy this and Ethan can't quite hold his own (yet anyway...James better watch out because Ethan just might outgrow him!).  With the exception of a few verb tenses that get messed up, James can pretty much form any sentence and say anything that he chooses.  He does mess up the word "forgot" and say "got for" which I haven't bothered to correct because it's cute.  At bedtime, if he doesn't get the exact wording he wants he will say, "You got for to say 'Good night James. I love you.'" James' favorite toys are blocks, cars and trucks, and trains.  He also enjoys coloring on the easel.  James is still a picky eater but much better than he used to be.  He naps a few days a week.

Claire is really at a sweet stage.  She still has her childlike excitement but has less tantrums and is easier to reason with.  She is very good at entertaining herself and loves her quiet alone time in her room every afternoon.  During this time, she usually plays with dolls of some kind and her dress up clothes.  Claire does well at school and seems to enjoy it.  She is always very proud to show off her artwork.  Claire still loves her ballet class and is doing very well with her swim lessons.  I think that if she was an only child, we would think of her as being very young, but as the oldest in our family, she seems so mature.  In some ways, it's hard to believe she's already four years old, but in other ways it's hard to believe she's only four years old!

March was a nice month for our family.  Matt was able to be in town more, which always makes for an easier evening when I don't have to handle the bedtime routine by myself!  He continues to work hard on the house in his free time.  Currently he has undertaken the biggest project yet--replacing some windows and rotted beams in the formal dining room area.  He is doing great work because he is so detail oriented.  We're really making the place our own and enjoy having the space.